Federal civil servants have been given a February 17, 2025, deadline for identity verification as the government moves to weed out ghost workers.

This was contained in a memo by the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and sighted by our correspondent on Saturday.

Civil servants are expected to verify their identities on the portal of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System amid the planned stoppage of salaries and other sanctions for ghost workers.

Our correspondent gathered that civil servants had been in haste to generate their Taxpayers Identification Number to meet the deadline.

Part of the requirement for verification is the TIN alongside the IPPIS number and salary account number.

The memo read, ?Following the Treasury Circular with Ref. No. TRY/A6&B6/2024-OAGF/CAD/026/Vol. V/910 dated 27th June, 2024 on the above subject matter and subsequent extension dated 16 August, 2024, I am directed to inform you that AGF has approved the extension of the OAF-IPPIS Payroll Validation Portal for an additional one week (10 ? 17? February, 2025).

?The portal will be deployed and made accessible to those employees that were unable to complete their validation before the end of earlier deadline. Visit OAF website: www.oagf.gov.ng and access the portal.

?It is hereby emphasised that all employees concerned are expected to conclude update of their payroll information on or before 12 midnight of Monday, February 17, 2025. Please note that officers who fail to avail themselves of this last opportunity may suffer some consequences which may include suspension from the payroll.

?Accounting Officers, Directors/Head of Finance & Account and Internal Audit Units of MDAs and other Arms of Government, are enjoined to give this circular the widest circulation it deserves and ensure compliance.?

In 2024, President Bola Tinubu directed that all civil servants drawing salaries from the Federal Government after relocating abroad be made to refund the money.

The President also directed that the culprits? supervisors and department heads be punished for aiding and abetting the fraud while they were in charge. (Sunday PUNCH)

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